(1H)Notwithstanding anything contained in this section, an application for a stage carriage permit from a State transport undertaking for operating in any inter-State route shall be given preference over all other applications:Provided that the authority shall not grant a permit under this sub-section unless it is satisfied' that the State transport undertaking would be able to operate in the inter-State route without detriment to its responsibility for providing efficient and adequate road transport service in any notified area or notified route as is referred to in sub-section (3) of section 68D where the undertaking operates the service.Explanation. - For the purposes of this sub-section, "interState route" means any route lying contiguously in two or more States] [Inserted by the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 1978 (47 of 1978), Section 21 (16.1.1979).]
